Judiciary
AISHA Tijjani, one of the Muslim Opinion Leaders (MOLs), has stressed the important role of Sharia Court Judges in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention.
The legal expert made this known in an interview following a sensitisation seminar for Sharia Court Judges in Kaduna on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seminar was organised by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) in collaboration with Ford Foundation West Africa.
It was meant to educate Sharia court judges from Kaduna and Kano states on Islamic perspectives in addressing GBV.
Tijjani underscored the importance of Sharia courts as the primary recourse for victims seeking justice, stating that: “Islamic law empowers individuals to seek redress and hold perpetrators accountable.”
She urged Sharia judges to take their role seriously, standing firm on justice as instructed by Allah.
“Our judges must recognise the unique challenges women face in northern Nigeria, where GBV are being perpetrated in particular forms.
“Through sensitisation, we hope judges will understand the menace better and administer justice accordingly,” she said.
Tijjani observed that GBV was not confined to culture, religion, or geography.
Participants at the training for judges in Kaduna
She said: “All women, regardless of background, are at risk of violence.
“Judges must consider why a woman is driven to leave her matrimonial home before requiring witnesses, especially in cases where abuse happens behind closed doors.
“Failure to do so may allow perpetrators to avoid accountability.
NAN reports that during the sensitisation, prominent Islamic Scholars, including Dr Toafik Abubakar-Hussaini from Bayero University Kano, also stressed the need for the Sharia judges to be proactive in discharging their roles against GBV.
He noted that interpretations of Islamic teachings in Egypt have demonstrated that effective collaboration between religious scholars and the judiciary could strengthen GBV protection.
Abubakar-Hussaini advocated for similar partnerships in Nigeria to improve GBV response within Sharia courts.
The Project Coordinator of MOLs for GBV Prevention, Ahmed Abdullah expressed optimism about the seminar’s outcomes, highlighting the importance of integrating Islamic perspectives on GBV prevention into the legal framework.
“This initiative aims not to impose new regulations but to enhance Sharia judges’ understanding of GBV, empowering them to address cases effectively,” he said.
He said the sensitisation seminar, gathered 50 Sharia court judges from Kaduna and Kano, as a significant step in the dRPC and Ford Foundation’s ongoing efforts to mitigate GBV in Northern Nigeria through education and judicial reform. (NAN)
Photo Caption: A cross Section of 50 Sharia courts judges from Kaduna ,Kano at the sencitisation training
10th November, 2024.
C.E.
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